Unreeler



SePt- 4, 1962 G. H. REED ET AL 3,052,425

UNREELER Filed May 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Shea?I 1 III' INVENTORS eov efjeed, BY v E Sept. 4, 1962 G. H. REED ET AL UNREELER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fear ebfrjeeal, BYJ 1 @if Filed May l5, 1958 United States Patent C 3,052,425 UNREELER George H. Reed, Chicago, and John E. tt, Hinsdale, Ill., assignors to Acme Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois Filed May 1S, 1958, Ser. No. 735,510 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-105) This invention relates to improvements in unreelers of a type particularly adapted for the storage of a coil of ribbon-like or strip material such as steel strapping and for the unreeling of the material either continuously or intermittently from the coil.

There have been many unreelers developed for use with strip materials such as steel strapping. Some of the problems associated with common types are that they are (l) oftentimes large, heavy and cumbersome, (2) of complicated design, (3) unable because of inertia of their parts to supply the strip quickly for withdrawal in response to a sudden pull by `a machine or the operator, (4) cumbersome to load and re-load with a fresh coil, (5) require too much space due to their own size or the distance they must be positioned from the machine or operator using the strip and (6) they are generally expensive to manufacture and ship.

It is the principal object of this invention to obviate these shortcomings of prior devices by providing an improved unreeler for strip material which can be manufactured small and light weight of extremely simple design with very low inertia and capable of supplying strip practically .instantaneously without snagging in response to sudden pulls by the operator or a machine, and which is very easy to load and re-load, requires only a small amount of space, can be positioned closely adjacent to the operator or machine using the strip, is very economical to manufacture land can be shipped easily and economically even in disassembled condition in a very small package.

The unreeler is preferably manufactured primarily of aluminum or other light weight material and consists basically of a central hub freely journalled on a spindle. The hub is provided with radially extending arms which can be manufactured inexpensively from tubing and they provide the support on which the coil supply is mounted.

`In order to minimize the effect of inertia, the strip is Withdrawn from the unreeler from the inside portion or circumference of the coil and, to facilitate the withdrawal of strip at high speed or by sudden withdrawal, a freely journalled sleeve is mounted concentrically as part of the central hub. Upon very sudden and fast strip withdrawals, the strip winds onto the sleeve as the central coil convolutions contract due to strip withdrawal.- As this occurs, the freely journalled sleeve rotates in response to strip withdrawal in case the strip encircles tightly enough onto the sleeve. This prevents abrupt binding of the strip on the sleeve which would otherwise occur with a stationary or lixed sleeve and would provide objectionable resistance to the withdrawal of the strip.

In addition, there is a certain amount of frictional contact of the sleeve on the central hub. Upon sudden strip Withdrawals, this frictional contact causes the sleeve to drive the central hub and thereby assist in the initial rotation of the unreeler.

It may be found that, for the particular application of the unreeler, no .sudden or fast strip Withdrawals are contemplated. If so, then the sleeve can be mounted in a fixed position relative to the central hub. In either case there is still another distinct advantage; the sleeve prevents the strip convolutions from being pulled across the central region of the unreeler from one side to the other where Ithey would be subject to entangling with each other and becoming kinked and thereby impair the operation of the unreeler.

3,952,425 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 In order to further provide an advantageous unreeler, the spindle of the unreeler is projected above or approximately at the same level as the top surface of a coil positioned on the unreeler and the spindle is provided with ya liexible guide arm which ordinarily guides the strip material to direct it against the inside circumference of the coil, but deflects toward the sleeve as the convolutions contract in response to a pull on the leading end of the strip as it is withdrawn. As the pull on the strip end is relaxed, the exible arm `again moves toward the coil. This reciprocating type motion of the flexible arm back and forth is repeated over and over again as the strip is intermittently withdrawn and it further prevents entangling of the convolutions by constantly varying the direction of pull of the strip so that any convolutions overlapping and tending to bind Iwith each other are separated.

'IThere is still another advantage due to the use of a flexible guide arm when it is directed to align approximately tangentially and close to `where the strip is being Withdrawn from the inside circumference of the coil. The guide yarm provides a closed column surrounding the strip to prevent it from collapsing or buckling with the result that the strip can be conveniently reversely fed back into the unreeler if necessary by reverse longitudinal feeding of the strip rather than by requiring that the unreeler be reversely driven instead which is a usual case. In fact, the guide arm can be of sufficient length to extend to a lmachine such as a strapping machine so that the strip is supported and prevented from buckling for a very long length.

`For permitting the unreeler to be loaded in a simple manner, the radial arms are bent vertically upward at their ends at right angles to their radial portions. This permits the unreeler to be tilted upward to a rest position on the ends of the arms. With the unreeler in this position, a coil can be slid into position laterally onto the unreeler, or else the unreeler can be slid around the coil. With the coil in position, the unreeler can be tilted back to a horizontal position in readiness for use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an unreeler having improved braking action elfectuated by both the action of the flexible guide `arm and the friction of the coil convolutions themselves as they pass over each other.

Other objects and advantages should become apparent by Ia more detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a first embodiment of an unreeler of this invention;

FIG, 2 is a partial sectional View along the line 2-2 of FIG. l and particularly shows the internal construction of the hub portions of the unreeler;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional View as viewed along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows further details of lthe hub portions of the unreeler;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as viewed along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2 and shows details of the separately rotatable sleeve portion of the unreeler;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a preferred manner of unloading the unreeler with Ia fresh coil.

FIG. 6 is a partial top plan View of a second embodiment of the unreeler of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6 and particularly shows the internal construction of the hub portions of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view as viewed along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and shows further details of the hub portions of the second embodiment.

A first embodiment of the unreeler comprises a base plate l for ordinarily resting on the floor or other object on which the unreeler issupported. The base plate 1 is fastened by means of anut and bolt 2 to a sleeve 3 extending upwardly from it. The sleeve 3 is provided with an internal bore 4 into which is positioned the lower end 5 of an upwardly extending spindle 6. The sleeve 3 is provided with an internalbottom surface 7 which limits the downward position of the spindle 6. The upper surface 8 of the sleeve 3 supports the inner race 9 of a ball hearing 1t? whose outer race 11 is positioned between two circular plates 12 and 13. As best shown in FIGS. l2 and 3, the bottom plate 13 is provided with three projections 14 which are arranged at three triangularly spaced points which act to center the plate 13 concentrically with the bearing 10. The upper plate 12 is flat overall while the lower plate 13 is provided with downwardly curved ribs 15 at radial portions adjacent its periphery which accommodate the inner ends 16 of a plurality of radially extending arms 17 which lie in approximately a single plane. These curved ribs 15 maintain the arms 17 in their radial positions. Even though eight radial arms are shown in the preferred embodiment, it is conceivable that a larger or smaller number can be used as desired without departing from the scope of the invention. It is necessary only that the convolutions of the coil mounted on the unreeler have sucient bridging support between arms to prevent the strip of even the light gauge from falling between the arms and hampering the operation of the unreeler'.

With the radial arms 17 positioned between the two plates 12 and 13, screws 18 are provided through concentric apertures in both plates 12 and 13 and the arms to hold the arms individually positioned in their xed positions between the plates 12 and 13. Nuts 19 are provided at the threaded ends of the screws 18 and are drawn up tightly to clamp the plates 12 and 13 against the arms 17 and also against the outer race 11 of the bearing 10. With thisrarrangement, the two plates 12 and 13 and the radial arms connected thereto provide a lcoil support platform freely rotatable on the spindle 6 where supported by the bearing `10.

The outer ends 2t) of the radial arms 17 are bent verti* cally upward at right angles to the radial portions of the arms 17. One purpose of these ends 20 is to centrally coniine a coil 21 mounted on the unreeler. The upper portions 22 of the ends 20 are bent radially outward to facilitate the entry of a coil onto the unreeler.

Secured to the upper surface of the plate 12 by means of three screws 23 is a concentric annular ring 24. The two plates 12 and 13, the outer race 11 of the bearing 10 and the ring 24, are therefore integral with each other. The upper end ofthe ring 24 is provided with an outwardly extending lip or flange 25 which extends into an internal groove 25 provided in a larger diameter sleeve or hub 27. The upper end of the sleeve 27 is provided with an annular plate 28 held in place by means of three screws 29 and it extends radially behind the periphery of the sleeve 27. There is no actual driving contact between the ring 24, which is rotated when the plates 12 and 13 are rotated, yand the sleeve 27, but, due to friction between the flange 25 and the groove 26, the sleeve 27 is ordinarily rotated with the ring 24.

The upper end of the lspindle 6 is curved first laterally and then downwardly in a semi-circular path and terminates at its free end 30 in a region slightly above the level of the ordinary top height surface 31 of a coil positioned on the unreeler. This free end 30 of the spindle 6 is provided with a clamp 32 which supports a spirally wound spring 33 at its mid-point. The spring 33 is used as a guide through which the strip 34 from the coil 21 passes.

As shown in FIG. 5, in order to load a fresh coil 21 onto the unreeler, the unreeler is tilted from a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2 to a position as shown in FIG. 5. In the new position, the coil holder stands on two of its radial arms 17. Next, the coil 21 is stood on edge as shown and the coil and unreeler are brought together by moving either one toward the other. When the coil 21 is in full contact with the arms of the unreeler, the unreeler is again dropped to its horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2.

With the coil 21 positionedfthe coil banding wires or fasteners 38 are removed from the coil and the leading strip end 34a is pulled from the internal periphery or `circumference 35 of the coil and passed through the guide spring 33. The outer end 36 of the spring 33 can be flexed in order to guide the end 34a of the strip in any direction as needed. The inner end 37 of the spring 33, also being flexible, is ordinarily aligned to properly guide the strip end 34a substantially tangentially from the coil 21. In its ordinary position with the unreeler at rest, the inner end 37 assumes a position as indicated in solid lines in FIG. l. The force provided by the spring 33 tending to assume its natural position holds the inner convolutions of the strip tangentially against the inner periphery 35 of the coil 21.

The leading end 34a is then led out to the region where it is needed and may either be handled subsequently by an operator who is strapping packages by hand or else it can be fed into a machine of the automatic type which draws olf strip from the unreeler as required. As strip is withdrawn from the unreeler, the leading end 34a is pulled in the direction of the arrow 39. This causes convolutions of strip to be reduced in diameter and pulled away from the inner circumference 35 of the coil. As this occurs, the resilient springiness of the strip itself induces a force in the unreeler which causes it to rotate in the direction of the arrow 40. As the withdrawal of strip is continued, several convolutions begin to be reduced in diameter and accumulate around the sleeve 27. lf the withdrawal of strip is fast enough and of sufficient time duration, certain of the convolutions wind tightly on the sleeve 27 and cause it to rotate at a speed faster than the ring 24 and the other parts of the portions it is connected to. As the sleeve 27 rotates, the friction created by the flange 25 of the ring 24 in the groove'26 of the sleeve 27 provides an additional force tending to speed up the rotation of the unreeler. Such an acceleration of the unreeler assists the withdrawal of the strip by making more convolutions available faster. As soon as the pull on the strip end 34a is relieved, the coil and the arms on which it rests continue to rotate, but because no more strip is being pulled from the unreeler, the contracted convolutions begin to expand outwardly and slide over each other to apply a frictional force in a direction opposite 'to the rotation of the coil. This frictional force increases progressively as the convolutions come closer together to thereby decelerate the coil. When all of the convolutions are finally expanded outward to the inner circumference 3S of the coil, the coil stops. It may be that, while the unreeler is being used, the strip is withdrawn intermittently, but with such a high frequency that the unreeler never actually stops rotating. In such a case, repeated intermittent expansion of the inner convolutions of the coil provide intermittently braking action which `keeps the speed of the unreeler slow enough that the coil convolutions are always under control and untangled.

The fact that the sleeve 27 may rotate upon quick or sudden withdrawals of the strip from the coil, faster than the ring 24, has the obvious advantage that it prevents diiculty in the operation of the unreeler due to abrupt binding or resistance to strip withdrawal which would occur if the sleeve could not rotate. However, the sleeve 27 serves another function because of its central location. It prevents the strip convolutions from being pulled across the central region of the unreeler from one side to the other where they would be subject to entangling with each other and becoming kinked and thereby impair the operation of the unreeler. -Even though not shown, the sleeve 27 can be fixed to the ring 24. If so,

the advantages are not so great, but it is adequate for use where no sudden or fast strip withdrawals are contemplated since it still prevents crossover of the coil convolutions to where they can entangle with each other and kink.

In use, it has been found that the unreeler of this invention c-an be used very close to a machine or an operator and does not require a long free length of strap between the unreeler and the point of use as other unreelers do for purposes of extra slack take-up.

Further, the flexible guide arm 33 can be made long enough so that its exit end 36 guides the strip material from the unreeler all the way to the machine or place where it is used. The guide arm then provides a closed column surrounding the strip to prevent it from buckling with the result that the strip can be conveniently reversely fed back into the unreeler if necessary by reverse longitudinal feeding of the strip rather than by requiring that the unreeler be reversely driven instead.

In addition, the unreeler is of such simple design that it can be shipped in a dismantled condition in a very small package and assembled after delivery in only a few minutes with simple tools. Due to its light weight and small size, it can be used from` a suspended position as well as on the lloor level or adjacent to it. In addition, the exibility of the end 36 of the spring 33 enables the unreeler to be positioned in many locations about the machine or the site of use so that a convenient place for it can usually always be found. Some unre-elers require that the unreeler be positioned in a particular alignment with where the strip is fed into the machine.

A second preferred embodiment of the unreeler of this invention comprises a base 101 for ordinarily resting on the floor or other object on which the unreeler is to be supported. The base 101 is fastened to a tube 102 extending upwardly from it. The ytube 102 is provided with a spacer collar 103 surrounding it at a level somewhat above the base 101. This spacer collar 103 is held in a xed position by means of a pin 104. Supported on this spacer collar 103` and concentric with it is the inner race 111 of a ball bearing 112 whose outer race 113 is sandwiched between two spaced apart circular plates 105 and 106. ln addition, the inner ends 107 of eight radially extending arms 108 are also sandwiched between these two plates 105 and 106 with the extreme inner surfaces 114 of the arms bearing against the outer race 113 of the bearing 112. The two plates 105 and 106 and the arms S are held assembled by means of bolts 109 and 110. The bolts 109 are short and pass only through the plates 105 and 106 and the arms 100. The bolts 110, of which there are four, are long and extend not only through the plates 105 and 106 and the arms 10S, but also through spacer tubes 115 and another plate 116 which is spaced from the plate 106 by means of the spacer tubes 115. Surrounding each of the four spacer tubes 115 which are clamped in fixed positions by the bolts 110, are loosely fitting sleeves 117 which are shorter than the spacer tubes 115. This enables the sleeves 117 to be turned freely around the spacer tubes 115. Surrounding all of the sleeves 117 is a considerably larger sleeve 110 which is also shorter than the spacer tubes 115 and large enough -to fit loosely around the sleeves 117 so that it is free to be rotated by rolling against the sleeves 117. This sleeve 118 serves the same function on this embodiment of the unreeler as the secondary hub or sleeve 27 of the iirst embodiment of the invention already described.

Extending upwardly from the tube 102 and extending through the plate 116 is an elbow 119 which is connected at its one end to the upper end of the tube 102 and at its other end to the inner end of the tubular arm 120 whose outer end is connected -to a T-connector 121. The T- connector 121 has passing through it a helically wound spring 122 which is identical in function to the spring 33 of the rst embodiment of the invention.

A coil 123 of strip material can be positioned on the arms 108 in the same manner as coil 21 Shown for the first embodiment of the invention. In addition, the ends 124 of the arms 108 are identical in shape to the arms 17 of the first embodiment of the invention so that the unreeler can be tilted to rest on these ends of the arms while loading the unreeler with a fresh coil of strip material.

Functionally the unreeler operates in the same manner as the first embodiment. The most distinctive difference between the two embodiments is only in the hub por-tions embodying the action of the sleeve 118 which is elfectively journalled on the smaller sleeves 117 instead of being journalled by means of a tongue and groove arrangement as in the iirst embodiment. Also, the sleeve 118 is in frictional contact at its lower rim with the upper surface of the plate 106 so that any rotation of the sleeve will tend to frictionally drive the plate 106 and its connected parts. Likewise, any frictional force associated with the smaller sleeves 117 will also add to this tendency. In the rst embodiment of the unreeler, the tongue and groove region provides frictional driving contact between the sleeve 27 and the other parts of the unreeler. In addition, the lower extremities of the sleeve 27 which are normally in contact with the upper surface of the plate 12 also assist in such an unreeler driving tendency.

Although two preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that the unreeler of this invention can. be produced in many diiferent ways with a large variety of modifications without departing from the true scope of the invention.

We claim:

l. An unreeler `for strip material comprising a base provided with a pedestal extending upwardly from it, the pedestal supporting the inner race of a bearing, the outer race of the bearing being clamped between two plates which have also connected between them the inner ends of radially extending arms whose outer ends are bent upward at approximately right angles to their inner ends, the outer race of the bearing and the two plates and the radially extending arms serving integrally as a freely rotatable coil support, said upper of the two plates being provided with an upwardly extending annulus which in `turn is surrounded by a sleeve rotatably journalled to it, said sleeve providing means around which the coil convolutions contract as the strip material is drawn oif from the inside of the coil.

2. An unreeler for strip material comprising a base provided with a pedestal extending upwardly from it, the pedestal supporting the inner race of a bearing, the outer race of the bearing being mounted between two plates which have also connected between them the inner ends of radially extending arms whose outer ends are bent upward at approximately right angles to their inner ends, the outer race of the bearing and the two plates and the radially extending arms serving integrally as a freely rotatable coil support, said upper of said two plates being provided with a plurality of rotatable small sleeves positioned radially from the center of the unreeler, and a large sleeve surrounding all of the small sleeves to be thereby journalled on them, said large sleeve providing means around which the coil convolutions contract as the strip material is drawn olf from the inside of the coil.

3. An unreeler for strip material comprising a spindle, a coil support, having a central hub, with a plurality of radial arms extending from it journalled to the spindle, said arms terminating in portions extending substantially perpendicular to -the arms and substantially parallel to Ithe spindle, the said portions forming the largest periphery of the coil support and being of sumcient length and in such proper alignment and balance with the spindle and the rest of the unreeler that the unreeler can be supported on its edge on two of the said portions adjacent to each other for the purpose of facilitating loading of a coil of strip material onto the unreeler.

4. An unreeler for strip material comprising a base provided with a pedestal extending upward from it, a coil support rotatably journalled on the pedestal, the upper surface of the coil support having a'hub extending approximately perpendicular to the plane of the coil support, the hub having a cylindrical Wall concentric with the center of rotation of the coil support and provided around its upper end With a radial flange extending parallel to the plane of the coil support, the cylindrical Wall of said hub extending substantially continuously from the upper surface of the coil support to the flange and providing means around which the coil convolutions contract as the strip material is drawn olf from the inside of `a coil supported by the coil support, said pedestal extending upwardly through said central hub to terminate in a free end in a region approximately level with the upper surface of a coil positioned on said coil support, said free end being provided With a guide for the leading end of the strip material being Withdrawn from said coil.

5. An unreeler for strip material comprising a base provided With a pedestal extending upward from it, a coil support rotatably journalled on the pedestal, the upper surface of the coil support having a hub extending approximately perpendicular to the plane of the coil support, the hub having a cylindrical Wall concentric with the center of rotation of the coil suppoit and provided around its upper end with la radial liange extending parallel to the plane of the coil support, the cylindrical wall of said hub extending substantially continuously from the upper surface of the coil support to the flange and providing means around which the coil convolutions contract as the strip material is drawn olf from the inside of a coil supported by the coil support, said pedestal extending upwardly through an aperture located centrally through said central hub to terminate in a free end in a region approximately level with the upper surface of a coil positioned on said coil support, said free end being provided with a guide for the leading end of the strip material being Withdrawn from `said coil, said guide being in the form of a resilient tube which is aligned to ordinarily urge the strip material against the inner circumference of the coil, but

which deliects toward said central hub by a force resulting from the coil convolutions contracting around said central hub as the strip material is Withdrawn.

6. An unreeler for strip material comprising a base provided with `a pedestal extending upward from it, the pedestal provided with a coil support rotatably journalled to it, the upper surface of the coil support having a hub extending approximately perpendicular to the plane of the coil Support, the hub having a cylindrical wall concentric with the center of rotation of the coil support and provided around its upper end with a radial ilange extending parallel to the plane of the coil support, the cylindrical Wall of said hub extending substantially continuously from the upper surface of the coil support to the iiange and providing means around which the coil convolutions contract as the strip material is drawn oft from the inside of a coil supported by the coil support, said pedestal extending upwardly through said central hub to terminate in a free end in a region approximately level with the upper surface of a coil positioned on said coil support means, said free end being provided with a guide for the leading end of the strip material being Withdrawn from said coil, said guide being in the form of a resilient tube which is aligned to ordinarily urge the strip material against the inner circumference of the coil, but which deilects `toward said central hub by a torce result- 'ing from the coil convolutions contracting around said central hub as the strip material is Withdrawn.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,095,096 Fleck Apr. 28, 1914 1,834,159 King et al Dec. 1, 1931 1,908,073 Spoor et al May 9, 1933 1,913,632 Green June 13, 1933 1,929,568 Spowart Oct. 10, 1933 2,398,639 Heyer Apr. 16, 1946 2,746,716 Zachary May 22, 1956 2,838,280 Eyles June 10, 1958 2,844,334 Luth July 22, 1958 

